From: Steven
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 08:34:46 PST

Paula Cairo's comments about the ways sports fiction can have an impact on non-sports fans was exactly right. It reminded me of Cynthia Voigt's books. "The Runner" has a sports background, and as a runner I could relate to Bullet's experiences. But I don't play guitar or dance, yet I felt just as close to Jeff in "A Solitary Blue" and Mina in "Come A Stranger" In all three books she showed how a person's strong interest, whether it's sports or not, can help define a character and lead to changes and growth. Same with Bruce Brooks' "The Moves Make the Man" (sports) and "Midnight Hour Encores" (music). There seems to be a difference between fiction that's "about sports" (Christopher, Dygard, etc.) and fiction that includes sports (like most (maybe all?) of the really good stuff that's been mentioned).
-------------------------------------------------------Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library 1595 Burns Streeet West Linn, OR 97068 ph: 503e6x57 fax: 503e6'46 e-mail: steven at westlinn.lib.or.us
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Received on Mon 11 Jan 1999 10:34:46 AM CST